Emily Gertz

Recent Activity

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  Emily commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  U.S. Carbon Emissions Plummeting

  Hi Katharine -- Thanks for holding down the fort here while I've been on break!

  
  

  The growth of renewables is really encouraging.  But I do have to say that Brown is avoiding the obvious answer here, which is that the economic slowdown cut both production (jobs, industrial activity) and consumption, leading to lower energy use and thus lower GHGs.

  
  

  Hope enviros will not jump on this particular bandwagon...it sends a message that we can have comfortable lives OR a stable climate, but not both.  And as far as I can tell, that's so not true.

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  Emily commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  Bicycle Inspirations From Copenhagen to Portland

  Yes, that's great, isn't it?  Imagine how strong that woman's legs must be!

  
  

  I hope you are not too freaked out by your fall.  I have had some spectacular skid-outs and head-over-handlebar flips.  They're pretty startling, and painful, in the moment, but eventually you just sort of look back and laugh.  

  
  

  Just be sure to wear your helmet EVERY TIME you ride, and don't assume the car drivers know or care what they're doing around you.

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  Emily commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  Eight Responses to Senate Climate Change Bill

  Go for it -- it'll drive up the number of its on the blog.  And this Gore fetish among reactionaries is always amusing.

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  Emily commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  Fatalistic Friday: Climate treaty still stalled, catastrophic climate change forecast, more

  Mark, please don't post laundry lists of links on this blog.  If you want to discuss the issues addressed in this post, do so with your own words.

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  Emily commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  Want to Help Urban Farming? Fight for Bees

  "Anyone who’s ever been stung by a bee can attest that these are no ladybugs, but come on now — venomous? Honestly, it’s a bee, not a rattlesnake."

  
  

  There are a lot of good arguments for legalizing beekeeping here in NYC, but it does not help to try and obscure the obvious fact that if it's got venom, it's venomous, and that some people can indeed be seriously injured by bee stings.

  
  

  Better to educate people about why we need them, and how to live with them as peacefully as possible, instead of insulting their common sense.

  
  

  Happily, in the meantime, there are efforts all over to create more bee-friendly habitat in the city, including the Great Pollinator Project and the Great Sunflower Project.  

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  Emily commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  Fatalistic Friday: Climate treaty still stalled, catastrophic climate change forecast, more

  Something *less* optimistic than the Met Office's report?  Short of predicting that the Atlantic current grinds to a halt and puts Europe and the mid-Atlantic into deep freezes, does it get more pessimistic than this!?

  
  

   

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  Emily commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  Videos to Watch: Climate week highlights, what's next in int'l talks

  Thanks for the video links, Oz.

  
  

  I actually don't know what sort of representation indigenous peoples have in the UNFCCC (International Framework Convention on Climate Change) -- it's a good question.  Six Arctic indigenous nations have a permanent participant status on the Arctic Council, which is a high-level international group that produces a lot of research and recommendations on preservation and pollution.

  
  

  One of the measures being negotiated into the "Son of Kyoto" climate treaty would involve near-unprecedented protections for global forests, which in turn would help many indigenous communities that still rely on these forests for their sustenance and survivial...assuming the measures are enforced.

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  Emily commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  Making a Global Climate Wake-up Call on Sept. 21

  Thanks for the film pointer, Sue.

  
  

  In our recent five questions with Bill McKibben, he described how to get involved with 350.org's international Day of Climate Action on October 24.  Perhaps that's far enough into the future to accommodate the aching bones of baby boomers. ;-)

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  Emily commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  Plant Scientist Norman Borlaug Dies, Having Saved a Billion Lives

  These statements attributed to Dr. Borlaug's evade the question of whether hunger is a problem of supply, or of distribution.

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  Emily commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  House Investigation Turns Up Forged Letter #14 Against Climate Bill

  Rep. Waxman's committee has subpoena power.  I am very curious about what we might learn if it's used in this investigation.